O'Brien County
County
O'Brien County Courthouse
O'Brien County Courthouse
Map of Iowa highlighting O'Brien County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°04′53″N 95°37′34″W / 43.081388888889°N 95.626111111111°W / 43.081388888889; -95.626111111111
Country United States
State Iowa
Founded15 January 1851[1]
Named forWilliam Smith O'Brien
SeatPrimghar
Largest citySheldon
Area
 • Total573 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Land573 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.03%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total14,182
 • Density25/sq mi (9.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websiteobriencounty.iowa.gov

O'Brien County is a county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 14,182.[2] The county seat is Primghar.[3]

History

By the time Iowa attained statehood (28 December 1848), its Territorial Legislature had created 44 counties. On 15 January 1851 the new State Legislature created another 49 counties, defining them by lines of survey. O'Brien was among the 49 units thus created.[1] It consists of four survey townships, each formed by 36 square miles arranged in a 6x6 layout, for a nominal 576 square miles total area. The county was named for William Smith O'Brien, a leader for Irish independence in 1848.[4]

The new county's first settler arrived in 1856; Hannibal H. Waterman brought his wife and a daughter to the southeast portion (present Waterman Township). His homestead formed the nucleus of the county's first community, and a small building was erected there to function as a courthouse.

By 1872 the county comprised several small communities, and residents of those groups felt the county's business should be conducted in a more central location. An election was held, the outcome of which was to create a new county seat at its midpoint. A 40-acre (16-hectare) tract at the center of the county was surveyed and platted; its name (Primghar) was created from the initials of eight persons involved with the platting. The previous courthouse building was transported to this new location.[5]

In 1874 a 35-foot square building was erected on the present location at a cost of $2,000, to replace the first structure. It was replaced in 1887 by a larger structure. The County Board of Supervisors authorized its construction, at a cost not to exceed $5,000 (the maximum amount the county was authorized to commit). To keep within this limit, members of the new community agreed to haul the building materials without charge from railroad stops at Sanborn and Paullina. The present courthouse was completed in 1917,[6] and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 573 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 573 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.03%) is water.[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860383—
187071586.7%
18804,155481.1%
189013,060214.3%
190016,98530.1%
191017,2621.6%
192019,05110.4%
193018,409−3.4%
194019,2934.8%
195018,970−1.7%
196018,840−0.7%
197017,522−7.0%
198016,972−3.1%
199015,444−9.0%
200015,102−2.2%
201014,398−4.7%
202014,182−1.5%
US Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[12]
Population of O'Brien County from US census data
2010 Census Age Pyramid for O'Brien County

2020 census

The 2020 census recorded a population of 14,182 in the county, with a population density of 24.8184/sq mi (9.5824/km2). 95.42% of the population reported being of one race. There were 6,524 housing units, of which 5,861 were occupied.[2]

O'Brien County Racial Composition[13]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 12,609 89%
Black or African American (NH) 159 1.12%
Native American (NH) 39 0.3%
Asian (NH) 79 0.6%
Pacific Islander (NH) 11 0.07%
Other/Mixed (NH) 300 2.12%
Hispanic or Latino 985 7%

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census,[14] there were 14,398 people, 6,069 households, and 3,927 families in the county. The population density was 25.1239/sq mi (9.7004/km2). There were 6,649 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.0% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 2.0% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. The county has a 3.8% Hispanic or Latino background.

There were 6,069 households, out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 33.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.89.

The county population contained 25.7% under the age of 20, 4.6% from 20 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.6 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females, there were 99.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,018, and the median income for a family was $58,127. The per capita income for the county was $24,771. About 6.3% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of O'Brien County.[2]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 Sheldon (partially in Sioux County) City 5,251 (5,512 total)
2 Hartley City 1,605
3 Sanborn City 1,392
4 Paullina City 982
5 † Primghar City 896
6 Sutherland City 629
7 Calumet City 146
8 Archer City 117

Politics

O'Brien County is one of the most consistently Republican counties in Iowa. It has failed to back to the Republican nominee in just five elections in its history, its inaugural election in 1860, finishing in a tie in 1864, backing former Republican turned Progressive Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, and supporting Franklin D. Roosevelt during his two nationwide landslides in 1932 and 1936. Since 1952, the Republican candidate has carried O'Brien County by a margin of at least 20% in every election except for 1964, when Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson only lost the county by 41 votes amidst a nationwide landslide. In the 21st century, all Republican candidates have obtained over 65% of the county's vote, and beginning in 2012, at least 70% of the vote.

United States presidential election results for O'Brien County, Iowa[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 5,861 77.62% 1,569 20.78% 121 1.60%
2016 5,752 77.67% 1,315 17.76% 339 4.58%
2012 5,266 71.73% 1,969 26.82% 106 1.44%
2008 4,894 66.74% 2,338 31.88% 101 1.38%
2004 5,328 68.92% 2,330 30.14% 73 0.94%
2000 4,674 66.35% 2,170 30.81% 200 2.84%
1996 3,877 57.56% 2,236 33.20% 622 9.24%
1992 3,869 51.06% 2,122 28.00% 1,587 20.94%
1988 4,241 59.97% 2,768 39.14% 63 0.89%
1984 5,008 66.16% 2,479 32.75% 82 1.08%
1980 4,937 63.61% 2,210 28.48% 614 7.91%
1976 4,643 61.86% 2,732 36.40% 131 1.75%
1972 5,159 68.87% 2,224 29.69% 108 1.44%
1968 5,594 69.34% 2,146 26.60% 328 4.07%
1964 4,336 50.20% 4,295 49.73% 6 0.07%
1960 6,509 68.66% 2,967 31.30% 4 0.04%
1956 6,138 67.32% 2,970 32.57% 10 0.11%
1952 7,130 76.18% 2,192 23.42% 38 0.41%
1948 3,697 50.46% 3,421 46.70% 208 2.84%
1944 4,033 56.01% 3,138 43.58% 30 0.42%
1940 4,760 53.30% 4,133 46.28% 38 0.43%
1936 3,350 38.90% 5,139 59.67% 123 1.43%
1932 3,213 40.94% 4,503 57.38% 132 1.68%
1928 4,845 66.39% 2,397 32.84% 56 0.77%
1924 4,172 58.47% 756 10.60% 2,207 30.93%
1920 5,137 76.51% 1,468 21.86% 109 1.62%
1916 2,021 52.53% 1,787 46.45% 39 1.01%
1912 620 16.02% 1,506 38.91% 1,744 45.06%
1908 1,912 57.69% 1,326 40.01% 76 2.29%
1904 2,279 68.94% 885 26.77% 142 4.30%
1900 2,386 61.16% 1,461 37.45% 54 1.38%
1896 2,421 60.10% 1,562 38.78% 45 1.12%

See also

Indian Village Site on the NRHP

References

  1. 1 2 Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer, (New York:Columbia University Press, 1952), p. 1363
  2. 1 2 3 "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 162.
  5. ↑ About O'Brien County (O'Brien County website; accessed 1 June 2020)
  6. ↑ "O'Brien County Courthouse". Iowa Judicial Branch. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  7. ↑ "US Gazetteer files". US Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ↑ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  12. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  13. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – O'Brien County, Iowa".
  14. ↑ "US Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. ↑ "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State – County". US Census Bureau/American FactFinder. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  16. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to O'Brien County, Iowa.
  • O'Brien County Portal style website, Government, Business, Tourism and more
  • IaGenWeb O'Brien county history, Biographies, and more
  • City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about O'Brien County


43°04′53″N 95°37′34″W / 43.08139°N 95.62611°W / 43.08139; -95.62611

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